“Tinubu Saddened By Opposition Disarray, Calls For Stronger Political Rivalry” — Senate President Akpabio

In what many Nigerians see as a mockery of the opposition parties, President Bola Tinubu is reportedly disheartened by the internal crises plaguing Nigeria’s opposition parties and hopes to see a more organised and vibrant opposition to strengthen the country’s democracy, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has revealed.

Speaking on Wednesday while representing the President at the inauguration of the Arterial Road N20 Interchange Bridges in Abuja, Akpabio said Tinubu remains a committed democrat who recognises the value of political competition and strong opposition in nation-building.

“President Bola Tinubu GCFR is very interested in seeing a vibrant opposition. It saddens him when he sees the way the opposition is in disarray,” Akpabio stated. “As a true democrat, he would like to see a very vibrant opposition in the country.”

The Senate President pointed out that not only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but also the Labour Party (LP) is battling internal fragmentation.

“Just before I came here to represent the President, I received a letter from the Labour Party. So it’s not only PDP that’s in disarray; even the Labour Party is cracked, and people who are strong members of the Labour Party are angling to run Nigeria when they cannot put a small political party like that in order,” Akpabio said.

He also announced the defection of Senator Neda Imasuen from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), disclosing that he had overseen the defection procedure in the Senate earlier in the day.

“Senator Neda Imasuen just decamped this afternoon from the Labour Party and moved from the left-hand side of the Senate to the right-hand side. I had to do that ritual. I’m not tired. I’m happy to receive them because our doors are open in the All Progressives Congress,” Akpabio said.

“I want to join the President to see a vibrant opposition,” he added.

President Tinubu had, during his recent Democracy Day address, made a veiled mockery of the opposition’s troubles, stating that he would not help them reorganise their internal structures.